Major scandal backfires! The Times forced to apologise to FIFA president Gianni Infantino

A sensational turnaround in the scandal surrounding FIFA president Gianni Infantino! British newspaper The Times has publicly apologised after admitting that its explosive allegations about the football chief's finances were inaccurate.

Details: On October 21, FIFA published an official statement acknowledging an apology from The Times. The newspaper admitted that its October 13 report incorrectly suggested Infantino had received an undisclosed second salary from FIFA. It clarified that no such additional salary existed. The publication also withdrew claims that Infantino had purchased a Miami property at an artificially low price. The corrections represent a significant reversal of the allegations previously made against the FIFA president.

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The Times additionally acknowledged that neither Infantino nor his family owned or controlled Shadi LLC, a company previously mentioned in its reporting. The newspaper explained that expenses and reimbursements received by the FIFA president are not classified as compensation under the applicable Swiss reporting requirements.

FIFA welcomed the correction and demanded greater responsibility from media organisations when reporting serious allegations. The governing body emphasised that legitimate scrutiny remains necessary, but inaccurate information can cause significant reputational damage.

However, the apology does not end the wider political disputes surrounding Infantino. UEFA and several national associations continue questioning FIFA's governance and controversial commercial proposals. The retraction specifically concerns the salary, property and company ownership allegations, not every criticism directed at the organisation.

It's worth noting that Infantino has served as FIFA president since February 2016. His current term faces renewed scrutiny ahead of the presidential election scheduled for March 2027.

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